Frequency of depression in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] patients

ABSTRACT

To determine the frequency of depression in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease [COPD] patients. We conducted cross sectional study between June 2008 to April 2009 in Department of Chest Medicine, Jinnah Hospital Karachi. All adult patients presenting with sign and symptoms of COPD confirmed by Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease [GOLD] criteria giving informed consent following inclusion and exclusion criteria were consecutively included. The primary outcome of the study was prevalence of depression measured through Hamilton Depression Rating Scale [HAM-D]. The score was classified into 10-13= mild; 14-17= moderate and >17 = severe. The sample size was [n=63]. The mean age of the sample was 60.87 +/- 10.93 years. There were 50 [80%] males and13 [20%] females. The severity of COPD in 6 [9.52%] patients was mild, 22 [35.02] moderate, 27 [42.90] severe and 8 [12.70%] were very severe. The mild to moderate depression was found in 10 [15%] of patients. We found that ten [15%] of COPD patients were also suffering from depression. It is lower than what international studies have shown. We recommend that all COPD patients should also be screened for depression in order to reduce the morbidity associated with depression and COPD